The 2025 list of the World’s 100 Best Restaurants has just dropped… and three Cape Town spots have earned their place among the elite.
Cape Town, South Africa (22 June 2025) – South Africa is cooking up greatness and the rest of the world is paying attention.
The “World’s 100 Best Restaurants 2025” list has just been released, and three extraordinary South African restaurants have made the global cut, all proudly based in the heart of Cape Town.
Each year, the prestigious World’s 50 Best Restaurants list shines a spotlight on 50 exceptional dining destinations, while also sharing an extended list of those ranked from 51 to 100. And in 2025, nestled among legends like “Den” in Tokyo, “Saint Peter” in Sydney, “A Casa do Porco” in São Paulo and “Le Bernardin” in New York, three local gems are turning global heads.
No. 55 – La Colombe
Located on the beautiful Silvermist organic wine estate at the top of Constantia Nek, La Colombe has long been revered as one of South Africa’s finest restaurants.
This is what World’s 50 Best had to say: “Tucked away in the Silvermist organic wine estate at the top of Constantia Nek, with stunning views over the Constantia Valley towards the sea, South African fine-dining institution La Colombe is the flagship restaurant of Scot Kirton’s La Colombe Group, comprising a slew of the country’s top restaurants. Consistently winning local and international awards, chef James Gaag and his team create elegant dishes grounded in French technique and accented with Asian flourishes.”
Beyond the accolades, La Colombe is known for its theatrical dining experience. Think multi-sensory plating, secret boxes that release aromatic smoke and edible surprises designed to spark joy. It’s not just food… it’s artistry with a side of wonder.
No. 82 – Fyn
Pronounced “fayn,” this trailblazing restaurant merges African stories with Japanese precision, all from the fifth floor of a transformed 19th-century silk factory in central Cape Town.
According to the publication: “Pronounced ‘fayn’, Fyn tells African stories with a Japanese accent on the fifth floor of a 19th-century silk factory in Cape Town. Using fish, poultry and meat from the best local suppliers, chefs Ashley Moss and Peter Tempelhoff serve a tasting menu with dishes such as the signature hazelnut-crusted springbok with salt-baked celeriac, black figs and mountain sage. General manager Jennifer Hugé runs the dining room, underneath which the team also oversees a casual ramen bar called Ramenhead.”
Fyn continues to defy expectations with its edgy design, philosophy-driven plating and one of the most innovative menus on the continent. It’s not just an award-winning spot. It’s a symbol of what’s possible when local stories meet global influence.
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No. 88 – Salsify at the Roundhouse
Set within a historic 1700s guardhouse in Camps Bay, Salsify is the kind of restaurant where every element, from the view to the vibe, feels like a cinematic experience.
The awards body said: “As far as settings go, you’d have to go some to top this Camps Bay spot. Tickled by the Atlantic and with Lion’s Head for its backdrop, you’ll find this cosy, contemporary restaurant within an old 1700s guardhouse – now one of Cape Town’s finest dining destinations. A romantic setting with retro edge, it plays host to an exemplary six to 10-course menu devised by chefs Ryan Cole and Nina du Toit, driven by a mantra of simplicity and local and foraged produce from land and sea.”
With a philosophy centred on sustainability and seasonality, Salsify has made its mark as a deeply thoughtful, yet joyfully indulgent culinary escape.
These aren’t just wins for individual restaurants, they’re big wins for South Africa’s food industry, for young chefs pushing boundaries, for local farmers and producers supplying world-class ingredients and for diners who believe in the magic of a well-prepared meal.
The World’s 50 Best Restaurants awards have been a fixture on the global culinary calendar since 2002, celebrating the richness and variety of the planet’s food cultures. With 1,080 experts casting votes from 27 different global regions, it’s one of the most respected barometers of dining excellence.
The top 12 for 2025 includes:
South Africa’s presence on the extended list proves that our culinary scene is not just thriving, it’s evolving, influencing and joining the world’s most exciting food conversations. So, the next time someone says you need to fly halfway across the world for a top-tier food experience, you can smile and say, “Actually, we’ve got a few right here at home.”
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